The pejorative language used by farmers in describing the styles prevents any use of these farmers descriptions in any process of farmer identification from a list of styles. Instead, portraits must be wordsmithed reflecting the concept embedded in each style. The following
portraits are written in the first person because they are to be presented to farmers on individual cards (without the label!) for farmers to assess their likeness to each portrait. Because the existence of the poorly defined styles is debatable, and because further research in the form of case studies will only take place with a limited number of styles, portraits have not been written for all styles. Portraits were also not written for those styles which embodied a large amount of negative language and seemingly lacked any positive aspects (eg, Doom and gloom, Skite and Lazy).
Innovative:
I like to be at the cutting edge of agricultural change. I am constantly seeking new technical information, and new ideas about ways of doing things. I experiment with these new ideas to find the best way they can be implemented on my farm. Sometimes they do not work out, but experimenting is important to get the best ideas. I maintain close contact with local Agronomists and agricultural resellers and I belong to at least one farm organisation such as AgBureau, Farm 500, Top Crop, etc. I attend most field days and read the latest Agricultural journals and newsletters from New South Wales Agriculture very soon after receiving them. I believe that the technology of farming is growing at a fast pace and if you do not keep up with it you will be left behind.
Progressive:
The modern business of farming requires that you put a lot of effort into running the farm at an optimal level, conducting gross margin analysis, watching the markets, keeping the books up to date, and planning into the future. I keep up with all the latest innovations and regularly seek information from a wide range of sources, including New South Wales
Agriculture, Agronomists, or farming organisations such as the Kondinin Group and Top Crop, or, by attending field days. I will adopt a new practice if there is a demonstrated benefit, but I generally like good evidence that a new product is going to be appropriate for my farm. I like to run my farm at maximum efficiency, but I am careful that the changes I make are appropriate for my farm system.
Middle of the road:
I enjoy farming, even though it can be tough at times. I am good at what I do and feel it is a good lifestyle for my family and I. Other farmers have more modern machinery and spend more money on inputs, but that does not make them better farmers. Being a good farmer means doing the right thing as much as possible, making a living, and providing for your family. Sometimes I would like to make more money out of farming, but I feel that there is no need to place my farm or family at risk by taking unnecessary chances. I run a mixed enterprise, wheat and sheep, and feel that I manage both well. Farming is my life and I cannot see myself ever doing anything else.
Traditional:
Farming has been in the family for a long time. I was born to be a farmer. Farming is in my blood. Sometimes I wonder if some farmers today are moving too fast and are not developing an understanding of their land. There is no substitute for experience and I am wary of outsiders who tell me that there is a better way of doing things and that I should change my practices. They do not know my land. You dont need bigger, newer, tractors, complicated rotations, or fancy crops that require more chemicals, in order to be a good farmer. You need to get the basic things right first and not be afraid of hard work. I know my land from years of
experience and I know how to make my soil produce.
Resource limited – structural:
Farming today is getting more and more complicated and keeping up with all the changes can be difficult and expensive. I would like to be a successful modern farmer, but the increasing cost of farming is making it difficult to keep up. My farm isnt big enough to be viable and much of my equipment is too old. I cant afford to borrow any more money, and I am concerned that I am so much in debt that if I have another bad season, it may be my last. My soil can be difficult to manage, however, I am doing the best I can with what I have. I know I could improve my soil, get better yields and maximise profits, if I wasnt being held back by the current economic climate in agriculture.
Resource limited – personal:
Farming is my life, but somehow I just cant keep up with all the changes that are happening. There is so much information to go through that sometimes it is difficult to make the decisions that are necessary to run a viable farm. Farming is too complicated now. I sometimes feel that I am going backwards even though I work hard. I like farming and I care about the land, but now you have to spend so much time catching up with all the changes that there is less time for doing the important things.
Risk taker:
The only way to make money at farming is to take risks. In order to keep ahead you have to try new and different things. The technology of farming is growing at a fast pace and if you do not keep up with it you will be left behind. Some farmers are scared to take a chance with new ideas, but I like to give them a try. Sometimes I try to make things
work that other farmers have rejected, or that have not been approved of. Persistence can sometimes pay off. Other farmers think that I take too many risks, but, you cannot succeed in this business without taking a few chances or spending some money on inputs.
Old rich:
My family has been farming for a long time and I am considered to be a member of the established farming elite in the area. I feel however, that the golden era of farming has gone. Farming today is more complicated than it was, and you need to know so much more about so many things now.
Consequently, it is harder to make as much money. Fortunately, we have investments other than this farm. Even so, it seems that we are eating up our financial reserves. Being a farmer used to be very pleasant especially at farming activities, such as those at the
saleyards, but today there are fewer opportunities for social interaction. I also find that I dont get the respect I used to.
Expansionist:
In farming, bigger definitely is better. In todays agro-economic climate, small farms are going to the wall because they do not have enough land to be viable. I am continually seeking to expand the size of my farm so that I can spread my risks. In the past, you could get by farming on a small block, but the reality of todays farming is that if you dont get big the increasing cost of inputs will eat up all your profits. I am not going to be left behind.
Hard driver:
The Australian environment is tough, and its variable climate can make profitable farming difficult. You have to push your land hard to make it
produce. Successful farmers make money by making the most of their opportunities and getting the maximum profit out of their land and their stock. If you are too cautious and worry too much about every weed or every possible disease your crop or your stock can get, you will never get anything done. In order to make a decent living you have to accept that you cant do everything to look after the land. When there is more money in the future, then things can be put right. Some people will think that I push too hard but it is the only way I can see to keep ahead.
Organic:
Concerns about the effects of farm chemical contamination of our food are increasing. I believe that there are better, more environmentally friendly ways of controlling weed and insect pests. I have made a decision that my farm environment would not be exposed to potential contamination by farm chemicals. Some conventional farmers think I am mad, and sometimes it is difficult to find people who support my way of thinking, but running a chemical free farm is important to me. Perhaps my crops are not always as clean as those of other farmers, but at least I have the satisfaction of knowing that I am doing what is best for the soil and for the people that are consuming its products.
Grazing emphasis:
I like working with stock. Dealing with animals is much more like real farming than driving around on a tractor, especially these modern airconditioned machines. Also, stock is a much less risky enterprise than grain which is more subject to wild fluctuations in markets and the climate. Cropping has also become so much more complicated today and I dont like to be locked into high finance machinery, chemical and fertiliser budgets. While stock prices are
not always high, you can make a reasonable living. Producing prime lambs, beef, or good quality wool can be very satisfying. Anything I do make by cropping is a bonus rather than my core activity.
Autocrat:
To be a good farmer requires a lot of experience. Many young farmers of today think they can just throw money about and be successful, but they have a lot to learn. I want my son/s to be good farmers, but I am not prepared to let them take charge until I am sure that they are capable of running my farm correctly. Many farms today are going to the wall because they have not been managed properly. I know my land from years of hard work and I know how to make my land produce. Farming is not easy, you need to get the basic things right first, and I want my son/s to experience the hard work involved in farming before they take on the considerable responsibility of running a farm.
Secret farmer:
Farming today is a cut-throat
competitive business. This means that you should not give your best secrets away. I seek a competitive advantage to maximise my profits and ensure I remain a leading farmer. To do this, I seek a lot of information about markets and farming methods from a number of sources. I attend the field days and farm walks that I think will be valuable but I prefer to listen rather than talk.
Diesel burner:
The modern technology of farming today is making things much easier. You can get around a paddock much faster if you have a good tractor and if you have the best machinery for doing the tasks of farming such as ploughing, planting or spraying. I like driving tractors and I
like keeping my machinery in peak condition. There is not much point in spending money on new varieties and farm improvements if your machinery is not up to scratch. I feel proud of my machinery and when I am sitting in my tractor, I feel that this is what farming is all about.
Tinkerer:
The thing I like most about farming is being in the shed and working with my farm equipment. I keep all my
machinery in good condition and I spend a lot of time making sure it is all running at its best. It gives me an enormous thrill to modify and improve my machinery. Im always welding something. I can make just about anything to do any task required on my farm. I think this is an enormously valuable skill because I have saved a fortune. Why buy new equipment when you can make it yourself or modify what you have to suit the purpose?
Opportunist:
The business of cropping is far too changeable to lock yourself into just producing wheat or canola on a regular basis. I like having a steady income from stock and I dont like to spend huge amounts of money on chemicals, fertilisers and new machinery, if there is not a good chance of a profit. I keep a close watch on the markets and seasonal forecasts and select crops that are likely to make a good price. If the season looks like it is going to be bad, I wont put a crop in at all. I am
comfortable concentrating on stock and I dont see why I should go into heavy debt. If you are smart you can make a good dollar watching the markets and making the most of opportunities.
Perfectionist:
I believe in doing everything properly and in having a tidy farm. I put a lot of
effort into making sure that my property is running at its best to the extent that other farmers may think I am a bit fanatical. But I believe you cannot make a decision about what crop to put in or what sprays to use until you have investigated all the possibilities and ensured that the decision you make is exactly right for your cropping system. I am continually seeking advice from Agronomists about such things as the best rotations, chemicals and spray rates. To get the best prices, your farm has to be very clean. You cannot afford to have contaminated grain or faults in your wool, so I make sure that I control all my weeds and that I dont miss any. I am proud of my farm and work hard to keep it looking at its best.